SOX contest!

(Sorry, big brother, we're not talking White Sox here.)

As you've seen from past posts, I'm big on contests. I may not enter them all, but they're always great for inspiration and for getting the creative juices flowing. I just came across a new contest that I think is going to be very fun and force me to try something new--knitting socks! The Think Outside the Sox Contest started in February and ends January 1, 2009. There are a number of different categories to enter (go here for all the info)--everything from lacy baby socks to most avant-garde adult socks. The goal is to design and knit a pair of socks that think outside the box (or sox). There are over $20,000 in winnings available, with top prize being $6,000. Winning entries will also be featured in Knitter's Magazine and a new sock book from XRX Books.

I've never knitted socks before, although I did knit our Christmas stockings last year (I think I'll show those closer to the holidays since they are buried hip-deep in our over-packed storage space at the moment), which is kind of similar. Before I create my entry for this contest, I think I better give knitting some sock patterns a try first to see if I even like it. Below are a few I'm considering. I'll show my progress as I go (but it might be a few weeks before I start.)

Scrap Mojo Contest

Scrap Mojo, another cool found blog I found thanks to A Beautiful Mess, is having an inspirational scrapbook page contest where you have to incorporate the lyrics from a song by The Ditty Bops.
Here's the challenge lowdown:

What you need to do is pick a Ditty Bops song (we picked wishful thinking) (lyrics here) and use the lyrics somewhere some how on the page. The second part of your challenge is of course doodle. So get to it and create something wonderful! Anyone can play. Make sure to have your completed work linked to us no later then July 15th.

The winner of the challenge gets a a kit made up of Elsie Flannigan (the creator of A Beautiful Mess and guest scrapper on Scrap Mojo) inspired scrapbooking materials. Very cool!

For some inspiration to get you started, here are a few of the pages created by the Scrap Mojo team (and Guest Elsie).

by Elsie

by Marcia

by Marie

by Kristi

by Jess

No More Wire Hangers!

Said in my best Mommy Dearest voice (a movie that still creeps me out to this day).ReadyMade magazine holds a monthly MacGyver Challenge where the task is to repurpose an item they select and do something new and crafty with it. This month's challenge is all about hangers. Here are the rules:

{Deadline: July 21, 2008} by Anthony Discenza

Hangers, no matter how dutifully we purge them, tend to multiply. Drawn to the dark corners of our closets (their favorite breeding ground), all sorts of species rapidly accumulate: gussied-up wire varieties clad in cardboard tubes and paper, molded plastic types in a rainbow of hues, wood-and-metal hybrids adorned with clips and hooks. Then they lurk, huddled at the end of the hanging bar in a tangled assemblage of triangular frames. Pending the future development of magical stasis-field closets, the influx will surely continue. What else can we do with them? The starchiest solution (made from any type of clothes hanger—the “no wire hangers, ever!” rule does not apply) wins a subscription and a ReadyMade T-shirt.

Send photos or projects to: MacGyver Challenge, 817 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94710 or articles@readymademag.com

Last month's challenge item was suitcases. Here are the runner-up pictures for inspiration (if you choose to enter. If I think something up, I will. So far, I'm drawing a blank!)

Doll Swap

Jessica, Shelley, and I swapped the dolls we made for our most recent challenge. To determine who got what doll, we each pulled a number from a hat (1, 2, or 3). Number 1 got 2's, number 2 got 3's, and number 3 got 1's. So I got Jessica's, Shelley got mine, and Jessica got Shelley's. Here are the cuties we made and exchanged:

Jess sewed this sweetie. And she's now sitting pretty at my place.

I knitted and needle felted this kitty kat. And he now lives with Shelley and her three real kitties.

Shelley felted and sewed this cutie. And she and Jessica are both getting settled in their new home.

With summer getting busy as it normally does, Shelley, Jess and I are taking a July Craft Challenge break. However, we'll all still be crafting, and I'll still be posting (and hopefully doing postings of some of their craftings). But I'm in serious need of finding a house lest I be sleeping a van (or in my case, a Jeep) down by the river (or lake). At least I have crafts to keep my mind off of possibly being homeless. =)

The Doll Craft Challenge

With the Mood Boards finished, Shelley, Jess and I are off and running with our next Craft Challenge. Shelley got to select this week's challenge, and the theme is Dolls. We each need to make one doll to be swapped on Monday, June 30. I think we'll probably just draw names to see who gets what doll. I had a couple of days off last week (which is when the challenge theme was actually selected), so my doll is ready to go. I wish I could show it now, but it must wait until after the reveal. For now, here are some cute dolls (and plushes) that I found on Etsy.

Dina Dotty

Biscuit Bunnies - Oatmeal Cream

Dolly

Adrena

Ritz the Baby Bluebird

Mood Board Contest Voting

The good news is the next phase of the the Mood Board Contest is upon us. Now it's time to vote! The bad news is that of the 118 entries, Shelley, Jessica, and I were not among the 23 finalists. Boo! Oh well. I think most of the finalists' designs were completely deserving. And for the three of us, it wasn't about who won or lost that mattered, just that we had fun. I think we all did.

With that said, you have until June 26 (I think?) to vote for your favorites. I still need to look a little more closely at all 23, but so far, I'm digging these:

I'm in the Mood for Mood Board Entries!

Today was the final day to enter mood boards for the Decor8/Amy Butler Mood Board Contest. Since this was such a fast turnaround, Shelley, Jessica, and I used this contest as our third craft challenge. Shelley and Jessica, given their design educations, jobs, and backgrounds, entered the contest as pros. I, being only an amateur crafter, entered as a non-pro. The entries are rolling in and you can check them out here. There are some very, very cool ones!

As for our three, I think they mostly speak for themselves. Shelley and I both did outdoor spaces, and Jessica did a cute girly room. If any of us get selected as finalists (and I'm hoping that at least one of us does!), I'll be sure to let everyone know as your votes will be needed.

Carrie's "Life Alfresco"

Shelley's "Summertime and the Livin' is Easy"

Jessica's "Girly Girl Oasis"

Unofficial Challenge: Martha Stewart Craft Contest

All the craft challenges and reveals have gotten me antsy for more craft contests. Crafting burnout can happen easily, so I'm just posting this in case anyone is interested in entering. It's an inspiration contest on MarthaStewartCrafts.com. Here are the rules. So take this post as more of a crafty FYI vs. a full-on craft smackdown. As always, if you do enter, be sure to let me know, especially since you need votes to win! If I end up making something, you'll be sure to see a post about it.

Children's Book Craft Reveal

So with little delay, the Children's Book Collage Craft Reveal went down today. What I'm loving about these challenges is each person's interpretation of the craft. We all bring something different to the table. I especially love this craft because it not only allowed for fun crafts, but we each got to tell a little story about the books we loved as kids.

For me, I chose The Berenstain Bears series of books more than just one single book (although my OCD self always liked the organized bins and boxes in Messy Room). My craft was based on how my memories of these books are very much tied to my big brother. He's five years older than me and used to read these to me all the time. Thanks, Sean!

A scrapbook page of my brother and me. I love the adoring look I have for him in this picture--it came from the heart.

Jessica chose Never Tease a Weasel. She said she loved this book and read it a lot, although the message didn't quite sink in. =) Her craft was a wall art collage made from paint, wood, paper, and embroidery floss. I think the message (taken from the book) speaks for itself.

That's Jess as a little girl...the photo, not the weasel, that is. =)

Shelley chose two books. The first was Frog and Toad Are Friends. For those who don't know the story, Frog loses a button while walking with Toad in the woods. He makes Toad go back and help him find the button. They find lots of buttons, but not Frog's. When Frog gets home, he sees his button on the floor. So to thank Toad for all the trouble he went through, Frog sews all the found buttons to a coat to give to Toad. Shelley's craft is a frame covered in buttons and fabric scraps.

On the front of the frame reads "friends."

The following two books inspired a second frame by Shelley. This one was a more stylistic approach.


Nice work, ladies!

Craft Challenge 3

Yes, the big reveal for Craft Challenge 2 hasn't even happened, but we are moving full steam ahead on #3. Jessica found a contest on Decor8 that is all about creating an art board using Amy Butler (whom I ADORE!) Midwest Modern fabric swatches (the swatches are available for print out here.) More about the contest details here.

If you're interested in entering, act fast as the deadline is Monday, June 23. If you do enter, please send me a copy of your picture so that I can post it along with the ones that Shelley, Jessica, and I make.

A Craft Reveal Without a Hitch...Not Possible

Well, I'd like to be showing you the cool crafts we made for the big children's book theme reveal today, but Shelley takes the blame on this one as she wasn't quite ready. Wednesday is the new date, but I thought I'd take this time to do a little craft-related ribbing and introduce a novel concept . . . the calendar!!! Use it. Follow it. Live by it! =) Ha, I'm totally kidding, but a girl's got to blog about something. And these crafty calendars are damn cute!

QueenvannaCreations

Deb’s Doodles

oladesign

Modern Cottage Advent Calendar

Magnolia Moonlight